Jule Styne

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 9/20/14 at 2:08pm

20 years ago today we lost one of the great composers of the American Musical Theatre. His name was Jule Styne and he was 88 years old when he passed. He will always be remembered for composing such shows as GYPSY, HIGH BUTTON SHOES, FUNNY GIRL, and GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972 and the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981. Let us never forget such a legendary composer, and may his works live on through the ages.

Updated On: 9/20/14 at 02:08 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 9/20/14 at 4:35pm

Amen! He and Jerry Herman were the dominate composers of my childhood.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/20/14 at 6:09pm

I you have not listened to Darling of the Day, get it immediately. Only 32 performances, but a lovely score with a wonderful performance by Patricia Routledge. I enjoy the score better than anything he had done other than Gypsy.

I also love Hallelujah Baby and really think the show should be done by Encores one of these days.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 12:16am

"I you have not listened to Darling of the Day, get it immediately. Only 32 performances, but a lovely score with a wonderful performance by Patricia Routledge."

And a wonderful show, as well.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 12:25am

He really wrote so many tuneful scores. It's difficult to pick a favorite, or even narrow down a top five.

I too love the scores to Darling of the Day and Hallelujah, Baby!

The OBCR for Sugar is loads of fun. Another one that Encores should absolutely do sometime.

Subways Are For Sleeping, despite the silly premise, contains some of my all-time favorite shower repertoire.

Do Re Mi is sadly under-appreciated; those songs should at least be showing up in cabaret acts more often.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 1:35am

And so many others like The Christmas Waltz, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, Every Street's a Boulevard In Old New York, I Don't Want To Walk Without You, Three Coins In a Fountain, and on and on. Spectacular catalogue!

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 1:58am

One of my favorites of his is HAZEL FLAGG. One of his most underrated scores I would say. I listen to it all the time, along with his other scores of course. The hits as well as the flops are wonderful throughout.

[tazber]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 2:27am

I love Sugar. I think it's underrated.

Also, Prettybelle is a very good score.

There are also some really good songs in Bar Mitzvah Boy.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 2:43am

Though I didn't mention them in my original post, I am also a fan of HAZEL FLAGG, SUGAR, DARLING OF THE DAY, SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING, DO RE MI, PRETTYBELLE, BELLS ARE RINGING and HALLELUJAH, BABY! I even enjoy quite a bit of LORELEI. He really was one of the greatest Broadway ever saw.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 8:09am

Add my voice of support for the scores of Prettybelle, Sugar and Bar Mitzvah Boy. The overtures for Look to the Lillies and One Night Stand sound pdg on the TER collection too.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 8:24am

Encores did Hallelujah, Baby - which is absolutely a great score! - in, I believe, 2000,

[Amalia3]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 11:52am

Jule Styne was not only a great songwriter, he was a true melodist. Young composers would do well to analyze some his songs.

[tazber]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 12:10pm

Oh yes, One Night Stand is a great but often forgotten score.

If you're a fan and haven't had the pleasure of acquainting yourself with the score I encourage to do so.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 12:12pm

Saw Look To The Lillies. I remember that Sammy Davis was being mentioned for the Poitier part. They were changing songs like gangbusters. It was a pleasant show that would be great @ Encores

Styne regularly stole music but he stole from himself so it was OK. Call Me Savage from Fade had the same melody as Witches Brew from Hallelujah another underappreciated show with a great score. When one of his Overtures started you knew it was him. He was the Ethel Merman of overtures

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 7:50pm

Please don't forget High Button Shoes. A delight from start to finish. And Two on the Aisle is great fun as well.

[theeatah]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 7:59pm

There's a late 1970s episode of Desert Island Discs - a radio talk show where guest picks the music they would bring if they had to be stranded on a desert island - with Jule Styne on the BBC website. It's an interesting listen.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/21/14 at 9:29pm

As a kid in Edmonton I saw Pieces of Eight, his Treasure Island musical (with George Hearn!) three times. I wish I could track down a copy.